I can’t believe it is October already. Where did the summer go? Oh that is right,not much of a summer here in the North West.

My favorite month is October for many reasons, one is the spooky little creatures that come to my door every October 31 and while everyone enjoys treats and tricks, we mustn’t forget our four-legged furry friends.

I found these tips from the Pet Sitters International webpage and thought I would post them here.

5 tips to ensure pets stay safe, comfortable.

When asked about his plans for Halloween, Garfield, the world’s most finicky feline, said, “Halloween is my kind of a holiday. Not like those other stupid holidays. I don’t get pine needles in my paws. There’s no dumb bunnies, no fireworks, no relatives, just candy. Boom, you go out, you get candy. It’s as simple as that.”

Halloween can be a traumatic and even dangerous time for pets. As the only “Garfield-approved” pet-sitting association, Pet Sitters International cautioned the fat cat about eating candy.

The association shares these suggestions with its members, and the 740,000 pet owners who use its members’ services, in hopes that all pets have a howlin’ good Halloween.

1. Think things through before putting your pet in a Halloween costume. Unless your dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing discomfort and stress. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume doesn’t obstruct your pet’s vision and isn’t uncomfortable or unsafe.

2. Know when to say “No!” This isn’t news to anyone, but dogs and cats will beg for treats. But please remember that Halloween goodies are for the Trick-or-Treaters, not pets. Most pet owners know that chocolate is poisonous to pets, but candies made with the sugar substitute xylitol are also dangerous. Candy wrappers can also pose a problem. Be sure to keep candy and candy wrappers out of paw’s reach.

3. Your pets might not be the party animals in your family. If you’re having a party, put your pets in a room where they won’t be disturbed. Be sure to check on them and reassure them that everything is all right. They may not be prepared to take part in the Halloween fun, but they don’t want to be isolated and ignored, either. Also don’t give alcoholic beverages to dogs, cats, birds or any other animals. Keep a watchful eye on party guests. Some may think it’s funny to give an animal alcohol, but it can result in serious illness and even death.

4. Don’t let your pets become escape artists. Be extra careful that cats or dogs don’t dart outside through an open door. Once a pet is out the door, its familiar neighborhood can become unfamiliar and scary territory on Halloween. House and yard decorations, Trick-or-Treaters and increased traffic can panic an escaped pet. A panicked pet may run too far from home to find its way back.

5. (Fire) safety first. Pets don’t understand that small fires are inside of Jack-O-Lanterns. Dogs, particularly enthusiastic tail-waggers, can easily knock over a pumpkin and cause a fire. Curious kittens also run the risk of getting burned. Place Jack-O-Lanterns where they can’t be knocked over by swinging tails or prying paws.

Most of all, have a safe and fun filled Halloween.

I just got back from a 30 hr trip to California to pick up the newest addition of my family.

This is Moolan Roux’s Rooby (Roux for short) She is an American Bulldog.

Actually I don’t mind the rain, that is one of the things people must deal with, when living in Oregon or Washington. However, not so much fun when your walking dogs. Not only do I get wet, but the poor dogs get soaked. Some have coats, others don’t care, they are out just to have fun on their walk. Its after the walk that the wet starts sinking in.

It is one of the things clients should think about when out in the rain with their dogs. Purchasing a raincoat or letting them walk ala’ natural. I do both when walking my dogs. Since I have six dogs, it takes a few minutes to get all their gear on. They are so excited that its hard trying to put a rain coat on jumping, wildly happy four-legged banshee’s (that is what I refer to mine as). Usually I will wait until the rain has slacked off and there is but a slight mist or trickle.

Today looks like one of those days that I will sit in wait and just when I think its safe, I will leash them all up and off we will go.

For those that are walking their dogs in this weather..happy rainy walking!

I am very excited to look out the window this morning and see yet another day of sun. Feels great.

Its also  great day to take your dogs out for a stroll. Just remember that even though its not in the high 80′s that dogs can still get over heated, so take plenty of water with you. If you have a white dog, like I do, remember to use dog safe sunscreen so they do burn. Yes, dogs can get sunburns just like humans.

Have a great Sunday from the House of Pawz (HoP)

Since Earth Day is coming up soon and Portland is known for being green I thought this video was very appropriate.

Plus I own Pugs and well anything Pug is good too.

Spent the morning walking dogs and I do believe Spring is here. One thing about my job, is I get to go out into the sunshine and actually enjoy the sights and smells. Lots of flowers.

Spring also means many people will be getting out in their yards and doing general cleanup and fertilizing those flowers and shrubs. If  you have pets there are also things to watch out for when preparing your flower beds or vegetable beds for that matter.

I perused the internet and found some tips you can follow to make sure that not only does your yard stay nice and healthy but your pets do to.

1. Before you start planting those seedlings, first check to see if they are toxic to cats or dogs. For example, Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils and Morning Glory’s are quite lethal to pets.
2. Before reaching for the snail and slug bait,stop and read the label. The active ingredient is Metaldehyde, which is another toxic substance to dog and cats. (One  alternate and safer way is using beer in a sturdy can with lip, slugs and snails are attracted to the yeast in the beer)
3. Motor-driven tools such as rototillers, mowers and weed eaters warrant the best safety practices around the home and garden. Protect your pets by either keeping the pets locked safely away or being aware of their movements at all times. Store sharp objects in a shed or garage.
4. Sort garden chemicals and discard all of the outdated or unused chemicals according to label instructions. Check the lock on your chemical storage area to assure that pets have no access.Better yet, try pet-friendly organic alternatives for repelling pests.
5. Commercial mulch sometimes contains cocoa bean shells, which many dogs can’t seem to resist. The chemicals and caffeine that are naturally present in cocoa can be very dangerous to pets if ingested. Make sure that any mulch you buy for the garden is free of cocoa bean shells.
6. Be aware of the types of trees and shrubs surrounding your house that generate a lot of pollen. Just like humans, pets suffer allergies too. If your pet displays symptoms like skin irritation, hair loss, ear infections, excessive sneezing or runny nose, make an appointment to see your veterinarian.
7. Controlling vermin becomes an issue again in the spring. Be aware that the same properties of common rat and mouse poisons that make them irresistible to pests will also attract your pet. If consumed, these can be fatal to your animal.
8. This is also the time for pesky bugs such as fleas and heartworm to rear their ugly heads.They grow and spread quickly once they find a host. The preventative treatments that you may have discontinued in the winter should start early in the spring to keep your pet’s coat, and your home, free of pests.
9. Spring cleaning is an annual tradition in many households, but make sure the cleaning products don’t hurt your animals. If the label states “keep pets and children away from area until dry” follow those instructions carefully, and store all chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
10. Iron – This is commonly added to fertilizers, and can result in iron toxicity (from ingestion of elemental iron). This is different from “total” iron ingestion, and can be confusing to differentiate. When in doubt, have a  medical professional at Pet Poison Helpline assist you with finding out if the amount ingested was toxic or not. Large ingestions can result in vomiting, bloody diarrhea, and potential cardiac and liver effects.

Here is a website you can check out for more information on what plants are toxic to your animals:http://oregonvma.org/care-health/poisonous-plants

Here is the animal pet poison hotline: 1-800-213-6680

With Halloween just around the corner, there are a few things you need to be aware of to keep your pets safe, sound and happy.

• First remember that dogs don’t know that those little wrapped packages of candy are not for them. Keep out of reach, Chocolate can be lethal for some dogs and wrappers or hard objects, such as lollipop sticks can cause choking hazards.
• If you have lighted pumpkins or those little sacks with candles in them, keep your dogs well away. One strong wag of the tail can cause these lighted Halloween decorations to tip and possibly cause a fire hazard.
• If your pet is anxious or frightened easily by loud noises or strangers, try keeping them in a seperate room and well away from the door.
• If your pet has to be part of Halloween and the dress finery, be sure that the costume they are wearing doe not pose a choking hazard, block their air passages or tempararily blind them.
• If your pet does dash out the door unexpectedly, be sure to have proper indentification tags on their collar. If they are chipped, be sure their information is up to date.

We here at Pawcific NW Petsitting wish you and yours a safe and Happy Halloween

It has been mighty cold here in the Northwest this last week. I realized just how cold when I took my four dogs for a walk yesterday. The sun was shining and the sky was clear, I was thinking sun means warmth, however  reality hit when the bitter cold wind slapped me full force as I stepped outside. I did have the foresight to put sweaters (made by their grandma) on each dog. My two biggest have very little hair and are at their appropriate body weight, meaning less fat to keep them warm. I did not, however, have the foresight to bring gloves with me. My fingers were like little icicles. Needless to say, we walked very fast yesterday.Later as my fingers were trying to thaw out, I began to think about how the cold weather affects our pets. I am happy they like the outdoors but want to take precaution against the elements as well, so I went online and found a few cold weather tips for your furry companions: Outerwear:Short-hair or extremely short-hair dogs should have some kind of outerwear if they are going to be outside for length of time. Larger dogs such as the Grey Hound Dobermans, Boxer, or Bully Breeds and smaller dogs, such as Chihuahuas, miniature Pinschers, and miniature Dachshunds are the most venerable and should not go out in extreme temperatures.  Paw care:If your dog should start to lift their feet off the ground, whining or dancing from paw to paw or stops when walking, then you should consider booties. Get your dog used to these earlier in the year when the weather is no so extreme. Once they are used to the booties, they will appreciate the effort. Watch for ice balls on longer haired dogs. These can be painful and feel like small rocks in between their toes. Keep the fur trimmed around the pads of their feet and in between the toes. You can also apply cow balm or Vaseline to their feet before hitting the snow bound paths or trails. Cooking spray does the trick as well. Be sure that anything you apply is safe for your dog to eat. If your walking your dog on salted sidewalks or roads be sure to wash their feet when you get home. Salt can irritate and crack the dogs foot pads. Outdoor pets:If you must keep your dog outside for any length of time, be sure they have the appropriate shelter. A covered dog house or shelter is the best. Keep these supplied with dry bedding, such as straw, blankets or strips of blankets. Since the dog goes in and out, they are bringing in the wetness with them, so make sure these items are changed on a regular basis. Keep your dogs weight up as this provides a layer of fat that can be beneficial to the outdoor temperatures. Provide plenty of clean water and check frequently to make sure it is not iced over. Most of all be aware of the cold temperatures and prepare accordingly. A little prevention goes a long way to happy, healthy pet.

Even though it is the rainy season, your dog or should I say furchild, still needs exercise.This occurred to me as I looked at my four dogs laying around the house in various lazy poses.

I did make a resolution to exercise more, didn’t I? Yes, of course and here were my inspirations to do just that. If I were to pose the question to these four furchildren of mine, they would grab the leashes, then sit in front of the door waiting expectantly. No questions asked.

But really, who wants to pull on all the rain gear, gather the leashes, poop bags and if you have it, dog rain gear?I must admit it is a daunting procedure for me, especially with four dogs. However, I know it is important for dogs to get the proper amount of exercise, rain or shine.

If you find yourself making excuses, fear not, there are always other solutions to the dilemma of getting soaked in the rain. One solution is find a new, innovative and fun exercise to do in the house, such as the laser pointers. Dogs and cats love chasing those things. Still another solution is to find a dog walker. Just like the postman, they are always out there, rain, shine, hot or cold. Never failing in their promise to the four-legged world that they will be there for them no matter what.

Back to the present, what to do with this pile of furry bodies staring at me, reminding me that, “Oh yes, thats right”, I am a dog walker and they need to be walked..now.